Federal Charges Filed Against Man for Threatening Rep. Randy Fine
A Massachusetts man faces federal prosecution after allegedly posting threats against Rep. Randy Fine on social media. Edwin Guerrero, 25, was arrested in August 2024. He remains in federal custody on related charges.
Federal and local charges
Federal charges filed in October include two counts of using interstate communication to issue a threat. Local authorities also charged Guerrero with eight felonies tied to posts on X, formerly Twitter.
Prosecutors say the messages included anti-Semitic language and threats to Fine’s life. The combined local penalties could total as much as 175 years in prison.
Court status and plea negotiations
A plea hearing at the Viera Justice Center was set for April 21. That hearing will likely be continued because Guerrero is in federal custody in another county.
Defense attorneys argue the federal prosecution duplicates state electronic-threat counts, raising double jeopardy concerns. The State Attorney’s Office has not conceded that issue, spokesman Matt Reed said.
Reed added the office currently has no plea agreement with Guerrero. A previously suggested deal, which would have resulted in about 2½ years behind bars, drew public criticism from Fine.
Guerrero reportedly plans to enter an open-court plea. He may plead no contest or guilty and let a judge determine his sentence.
Arrest and investigation details
Florida Department of Law Enforcement records say U.S. Department of Homeland Security detained Guerrero at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Agents took him into custody after he returned from a trip to Spain.
FDLE officers transported him to Brevard County for questioning. Investigators say Guerrero admitted making the posts and told agents he had intended only to anger Fine.
Representative and jurisdiction
Randy Fine currently serves Florida’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The case involves both federal and state jurisdictions due to the interstate nature of the communications.
Details in this article were provided to Filmogaz.com by reporter Tyler Vazquez.
